Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: Emergency Preparedness

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One of the scariest things to happen is to get an evacuation notice in the middle of the night. This happened to us when we were living in Pennsylvania; emergency trucks came rolling through our neighborhood with their sirens blaring telling us to evacuate as quickly and safely as possible. Huntsville Dam was about to overflow. Naturally, I panicked. I had no idea what to gather because we didn’t have a plan. Honestly, it had never occurred to me to create one.

I remember The Hubs and I telling the kids to pack up some clothes, grab food for Squeekerz, and put anything they really wanted to save into the Hummer. I gathered our medications and packed clothes for myself and The Hubs. The Hubs secured our documents and valuables, and loaded them into the truck. I also grabbed some things I couldn’t stand to lose: our family bible, the kids’ photo albums, and my childhood doll. Fortunately for us, my mother-in-law lived nearby {but a safe distance away}, so we were able to stay with her until it was safe to return home. And, from that point on, we always had an emergency plan. Just in case. Now I’m sharing our plan with you…

Here are some things you’ll want to do, just to be on the safe side:

1. Build a Disaster Supplies Kit {click here to purchase survival kit supplies} 
   Food and Water: a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and water per person, a manual can opener, and foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking
   First Aid Kit: bandages, antiseptic wipes, a supply of needed medicines {along with a list and the required dosage}, and pain relievers; learn basic CPR and first aid
   Flashlights and Batteries: have a hand-crank or battery-powered radio for news and radio; walkie-talkies, satellite phone, or something similar would also be handy
   Sanitation and Hygiene: hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, and trash bags
   Pet Needs: pet food, food and water dishes, leashes, carry cases, and medical records
   Safety: Pocket knife, weapon {if you’re licensed and properly trained}, and/or mace
   Other items to consider: ponchos, dust masks, whistles, copies of important documents, cash, extra cell phone chargers, clothing, blankets, ponchos, sleeping bags
   If you have small children, you may want to consider packing away books, games, and toys to keep them occupied.
2. Create a Family Emergency Plan {click here to purchase emergency plan booklets}
   Identify the potential hazards in your community (examples: tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, etc.)
   Plan for an evacuation: note evacuation routes and set up a designated meeting spot for family
   Know how to shut off the utilities in your home
   Establish a communication plan with family {how do you plan to get in touch if cell phones stop working}
   If you have pets, plan for their safety {identify shelters that take pets}
3. Stay Informed
   Monitor your local news stations
   Sign up for emergency alerts
   Learn about local resources such as emergency services and shelters
4. Take Action
   Prepare your home against potential threats
   Take a CPR or first aid class {your local library, community college and/or Red Cross may offer courses}
   Review your plan and update it as needed

 

ABOUT THE BLOGGING FROM A TO Z APRIL CHALLENGE

I’m linking up with Suzy at SuzyTurner.com for her A to Z Blogging Challenge. Do you remember blogging challenges from the early days of blogging? They were so much fun as they provided an opportunity to learn more about the people in my blogging circle and I found new blogs {and picked up new bloggers}. Before I go off  on a tangent, the idea behind this blogging challenge is to write a post every day of the month of April {wait, what? How did I miss that part? I thought it was once a month. Haha Jokes on me.}. Anyway, the goal is to write a post following the alphabet for every day of the month. If you decide to join us, please leave a comment with your blog link below. Thank you!

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

Is there anything that you can think of that I may have forgotten? Leave a comment below and let me know if and how you’ve prepared your family for an emergency situation.

THANK YOU

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new. If you like what you read, please consider sharing this post on Facebook or Pinterest. While I pay for many of the items I share on this blog out of my own pocket, some items are gifted to me {I always disclose those items}.

Come back soon,

 

 

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